WHAT ARE CHARACTER STRENGTHS?
Character Strengths refer to the idea that everyone can develop and enhance their positive qualities leading to personal growth and improved well being. This concept applies to individuals of all backgrounds and ages and can be nurtured through education and practice. Character development is a lifelong process, and that character strengths are flexible and impact our overall happiness. Character strengths are influenced by your environment.
Characters are distinguished by behavior, thoughts and emotions. Character is defined as a set of “good traits” or strengths. Knowing one's own and other people’s strengths leads to more engaging and effective communication and relationships. Understanding and developing character strengths promotes a happy and meaningful life. Positive psychology focuses on positive feelings, traits and environments. Character Strengths are very important in our everyday living.
WHY ARE CHARACTER STRENGTHS IMPORTANT?
Having a strong character is crucial for a well lived life. Character strengths are positive qualities that allow individuals to thrive and achieve their goals. Understanding and harnessing our own character strengths helps us develop skills and improve ourselves. It also allows us to intentionally apply our strengths in areas where we may be lacking. Recognizing and appreciating the character strengths of others helps build and maintain positive relationships. Each person has a unique combination of character strengths, reflecting our individuality and diversity. Understanding and valuing the strengths leads to more meaningful and positive interactions. This insight is particularly important in today's diverse society.
TYPES OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS
When we talk about character strengths, the word “strengths" can be defined in many different ways. Some of the most commonly used words in the context of character are Power, Force, Capability, and Energy. There are 24 character strengths and six main virtues. These virtues are Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence. In this regard, Character Strengths not only allow us to be better human beings, but also serve as a buffer in times of need. They help us to cope with the troubles of life and move through difficult times with ease.
Character Strengths fall into three categories, which are personal, interpersonal, and emotional strengths. Personal strengths are unique qualities that distinguish and protect us as individuals. Personal strengths lead to self awareness and deep connection with others. They are essential buffers against mental illness and contribute to happiness and mental health. Classifying strengths under the six virtues helps understand their benefits, developing a systematic understanding of individual responses and factors that contribute to the use of strengths is beneficial. Having an optimistic mindset and engaging in fast paced activities that produce flow increase well being by focusing on the presence and exercising strengths.
Interpersonal character strengths are those that relate to a person's relationships and interactions with others. The strengths enable individuals to interact positively and harmoniously with people to form and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships, to work and cooperate effectively with others and to contribute to the well being and success of family, friends, coworkers and the wider community. Some of the key interpersonal strengths include abilities such as love, kindness, social intelligence, teamwork, leadership, fairness, and forgiveness. Love is a character strength representing all the kind, benevolent and selfless actions that a person does in an altruistic way to promote and enhance the well being of another. It is much more than the emotion of feeling love for someone. It reflects all the ways in which a person can actually practice love by being unselfish, supportive, and attending to the needs and wishes of others. Kindness is the tendency to do charitable acts by demonstrating an understanding and affection for others. Social Intelligence refers to the ability to be aware of the motivations and feelings of other people and oneself and to be able to discern and understand social situations and adapt effectively to different social contexts.
WHAT ARE EMOTIONAL STRENGTHS?
Emotional strengths are crucial for managing emotions and achieving goals. Emotions come from within and are our own responsibility. Hope is an essential ingredient for resilience and driving us forward. Resilience allows us to bounce back from stress and adversity. Gratitude is important for a well rounded and successful life. Developing emotional strengths is an ongoing process that can be learned over time. Emotional strengths lead to benefits in personal and professional life.
How do we develop character strengths? When developing character strengths the first step is identifying and assessing them. strengths can be identified and assessed through the use of self reflection exercises. These are activities that are designed to encourage one to think about their traits and to consider how these might be used in practice. There are a range of activities that can be practiced in order to help identify and assess character strengths. It is important to remember that there are no definitive methods for identifying and assessing character strengths and that a combination of approaches is often best. Everyone's character is unique, and it is likely that individual differences may affect the success of different methods. How do we overcome obstacles to developing strengths?
Having a growth mindset is a powerful tool. Growing our Character Strengths takes time and effort but it also takes something else. Something equally valuable. A growth mindset. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. Those with a fixed mindset believe that their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent are simply fixed traits. This is far from the truth. Remember your character strengths, your qualities and your attitudes are not set in stone. As we work to develop and use our character strengths in new and different ways, we are going to make mistakes. We won't meet our goals and we will sometimes feel embarrassed. But with the right kind of effort and the right kind of support. We can overcome these hurdles on the journey of developing character strengths.
A key ally is a growth mindset. This mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests or temperaments. Everyone can change and grow through application and experience. Growth Mindset is not a catch all fix all remedy. We all encounter times due to circumstances both within and beyond our control, where our efforts to develop character strengths are impeded or even defeated. When faced with an obstacle and developing character strengths, see if there is something you can do to change or work around the obstacle. For example, perhaps you can change the situation, use new forms of practice or seek support from others. In developing our character strengths, questions or doubts may come from any angle and through many different avenues. By directly addressing this obstacle and responding to the doubts and criticisms from a more informed viewpoint, we can grow not only in our own capacity to practice and model character strengths, but also simultaneously encourage others to undertake this journey with an open mind and a sincere heart.
How do I apply character strengths?
There are several ways to apply character strengths in everyday life. Utilizing character strengths not only benefits individuals but also the well being of others in the community. Implementing character strengths in government policies can promote good governance, citizenship and social responsibility. Identifying strengths on an everyday citizen level can lead to a better set of policies and resources. People in business also apply positive psychology principles to improve employee performance and well being. Wisdom and knowledge involve cognitive processes, while temperance strengths protect against excess. Self- regulation is a strength that can be used in all areas of life to make wise choices. Using strengths for true values like love, or deep pleasure is recommended.
How do I use my strengths in my personal life?
Using your character strengths in life is not just beneficial for your well being and success but also acts as a form of strength based mind training. People who practice these strengths have reported reduced depression and increased happiness. It is important to remember that misusing your strengths can lead to a distorted and discontented life, while using them in a balanced and mindful way can enhance the quality of your experiences. For example, practicing random acts of kindness or embracing curiosity can bring joy and contentment. Applying your character strengths creatively and optimally enriches life and allows you to be present in every activity. Ultimately, it is the meaningful experiences along the journey that matter, made possible by using your character strengths.
Six Virtues & Character Strengths as per “The Values in Action” (VIA)
1. Wisdom and Knowledge: The more curious and creative we allow ourselves to
become, the more we gain perspective and wisdom and will, in turn, love what we are
learning. This is developing the virtue of wisdom and knowledge.
- ● Creativity
- ● Curiosity
- ● Judgement and Open-Mindedness
- ● Love of Learning
- ● Perspective
- ● Bravery
- ● Perseverance
- ● Honesty
- ● Zest
- ● Love
- ● Kindness
- ● Social Intelligence
4. Justice: Civic strengths that support and expand healthy community life. It creates the sense of safety and community.
- ● Teamwork
- ● Fairness
- ● Leadership
5. Temperance: Being forgiving, merciful, humble, prudent, and in control of our behaviors and instincts prevent us from being arrogant, selfish or any other trait that is excessive or unbalanced.
- ● Forgiveness and Mercy
- ● Modesty and Humility
- ● Prudence
- ● Self-Regulation
6. Transcendence: These are universal strengths allowing us to connect with life on a deeper level. This virtue nurtures the sense of meaning and purpose in life.
- ● Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
- ● Gratitude
- ● Hope
- ● Humour
- ● Religiousness and Spirituality